After the Pasay City Regional Trial Court issued a warrant of arrest against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, many were jubilant and welcomed the filing of the election sabotage case against Arroyo in connection with the 2007 election.
As expected, supporters of the former president criticized the quick action taken by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and the joint resolution of the Department of Justice and Commission on Elections that resulted in the filing of the case and issuance of the warrant of arrest.
The Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order on the travel ban against the erstwhile first couple became moot and academic and the two were prevented from leaving the country and escaping accountability.
Arroyo became the second former president in our country to be arrested for abuse of power after former president Joseph Ejercito whom Arroyo sent Erap to prison or Veteran’s Hospital for plunder.
Arroyo’s fingerprints and mug shots were taken the day after she was served a warrant of arrest at St. Luke’s Medical Center. Now her critics are protesting the special treatment GMA is getting from the administration like being confined in the hospital. They said her mug shots should be made public, not hidden. They likened Arroyo to former president Erap who was confined at the Veteran’s hospital and jailed.
Is it correct to say that the government railroaded the filing of the joint resolution of the DOJ-Comelec and the issuance of the warrant of arrest? Well, some lawyers say so but I am happy that the government finally found the energy to proceed swiftly in performing what it ought to do with the DOJ using common sense.
Can you imagine the flak Secretary De Lima would have gotten if she dragged her feet and allowed the former first couple to leave the country? I think GMA should welcome the development because she will have her day in court to prove her innocence, and President Benigno Aquino III should be congratulated for his steadfastness in holding former officials of the country accountable and answerable for what they did during their administration.
Secretary Leila de Lima should not worry because she did what was expected of her: a very good job pursuing the arrest of PGMA.
The Filipino people should be happy with the recent development because now we have established that misbehaving presidents and officials are held accountable for what they have done during their term.
I think this is one legacy that we will never forget with the administration of President Noynoy Aquino. The President may be criticized for it but it is the best thing to happen for the Filipinos and will encourage our people to fight graft and corruption in the country.
Thank you, Mr. President, for making us proud again as a people.
* * *
I am happy though not satisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeals that upheld the dismissal of some Department of Public Works and Highways officials in Central Visayas.
Time and again I have said that the mastermind of the overpriced decorative lamposts installed in Cebu for the 2007 Asean Summit could not have been from Region 7 since it not only involved millions of pesos.
It seems impossible that DPWH-7 officials concocted the anomaly among themselves unless they allowed themselves to be used by their bosses in Manila to consummate the crime.
There must be bigger fish behind the lamppost anomaly in Cebu.
Funny that this would make it appear that we Cebuanos were authors of this corruption when in fact some big fish behind it is laughing because he and his group go scot-free. Let’s not stop seeking the truth about the real culprits in this shameless scam.